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Childhood Trauma and Addiction

Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated two-thirds of children have experienced some kind of trauma by the age of 16.

Childhood trauma can take many forms, including physical and sexual abuse, loss of a loved one, or life-threatening illness. So, there are many ways that a child may be affected at an early age.
Early trauma can lead to many mental and physical health concerns. Children who have experienced trauma may be more likely to have problems in school and suffer from substance abuse problems later in life.
Without treatment and safe places in their lives, they may have lifelong difficulty establishing trusting relationships with others.

Causes of Trauma
According to the American Psychological Association, a traumatic event is one that "threatens injury, death, or the physical integrity of self or others and also causes horror, terror, or helplessness at the time it occurs."
Examples of traumatic events include:
Car accidents
Community and school violence
Domestic violence
Medical trauma
Natural disasters
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Being in military family, deployment, loss of a parent, or an injury
Suicide
Traumatic losses

Trauma Happens Early
An estimated 66 percent of children report experiencing a traumatic event before age 16, according to the American Psychological Association.


Childhood trauma is not always preventable. Sometimes, a person will witness or be a victim of trauma they have absolutely no control over. When this occurs to a young person, they must understand that what happened to them was not their fault and that it does not make them a bad person.
Parents, loved ones, and educators must also recognize the impacts of trauma on a young person. Instead of automatically thinking the person has a condition like ADHD or other disorders, they should explore some of the possible reasons why a person continues to act a certain way. It is quite possible that for some young people, trauma is the underlying cause.
Treatments are available for those who experience trauma as well as those who struggle with trauma and substance abuse. Fortunately, young people are very resilient. With the right help and support, they can recover and ideally live happier lives.

Learn about the connection to childhood trauma and addiction. https://asanarecovery.com/impacts-of-childhood-trauma/

Asana Recovery offers a great explanation of childhood trauma, not just how it can effect addiction into adulthood. It's worth a quick read!

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